The female leader of the elite women’s basij militia was shot dead outside her home on Wednesday. – Mehr News
Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published October 15, 2026
A female commander of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force was shot and killed outside her home in southeastern Iran, according to Iranian media reports. The killing occurred in Mehrestan County, Sistan and Baluchestan province, on Wednesday, October 14, amid a series of armed attacks targeting security personnel in the region.
Commander identified as Afsaneh Aqila
Commander identified as Afsaneh Aqila
The woman was identified as Afsaneh Aqila, who commanded the Afzal Sisters’ women’s Basij unit in Mehrestan, according to reports from Iranian news agencies and independent regional news outlets.
Iranian media reported that Aqila was shot outside her residence. The circumstances surrounding the attack and the identities of those responsible have not been independently established.
Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), alleged that the attackers had links to the United States and Israel. However, the agency did not publicly identify a specific organization responsible or provide independently verified evidence supporting the allegation.
The Basij is a paramilitary organization operating under the IRGC, Iran’s powerful military institution. Its activities include mobilization and internal security functions, with units operating across the country.
Police officer also killed in separate attack.
Police officer also killed in separate attack
Aqila’s killing occurred on the same day that another security official, identified as Mohammad Ali Shahriari, died following an armed attack on a police vehicle in Mehrestan.
The two incidents were reported separately, and authorities have not established publicly whether they were connected.
Violence continues in Sistan and Baluchestan
Sistan and Baluchestan, a province bordering Pakistan and Afghanistan, has experienced repeated armed confrontations involving Iranian security forces and unidentified gunmen. The region is home to a substantial Baluch population and has long faced security challenges, including attacks on police and military personnel.
Iranian authorities have frequently blamed armed groups for attacks in the province, while regional monitoring organizations have documented shootings, bombings and clashes in several districts.
The latest killings add to a series of reported security incidents in southeastern Iran in recent weeks. However, the identities of those responsible for Aqila’s death and the precise circumstances of the attack remain unconfirmed by independent investigation.
